footwork

noun

foot·​work ˈfu̇t-ˌwərk How to pronounce footwork (audio)
1
: the activity of moving from place to place
the investigation entailed a lot of footwork
2
: the management of the feet (as in boxing)
also : the work done with them
3
: active and adroit maneuvering to achieve an end
fancy political footwork

Examples of footwork in a Sentence

The investigation required a lot of footwork. He used quick footwork to dodge his opponent. The tango involves some fancy footwork. He knows that getting enough votes for the proposal is going to require some fancy political footwork.
Recent Examples on the Web After Detroit again closed to within three, Butler used his savvy footwork for a basket to put the Heat back up five, and then hit his first three of the night with 21 seconds to go to put the Heat up eight. Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 6 Mar. 2024 But another recent study about poison dart frogs’ footwork, published in November in the journal Evolutionary Ecology, corroborated some of the new conclusions. Christian Thorsberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Mar. 2024 Runners and bussers carry out the intricate footwork of service: bending down to adjust a fish knife, raising a silver cloche, ironing a crease out of a starchy white tablecloth, holding a silver ladle high in the air as a blue trickle of flaming rum pours down on a wedge of sticky toffee pudding. Pete Wells, New York Times, 6 Feb. 2024 Encouraging listeners to showcase their best moves, all that’s required is footwork and attention to detail. Carl Lamarre, Billboard, 31 Jan. 2024 His development over time has focused on footwork and adding different offensive moves: step backs, fadeaways, head fakes, step throughs and more. Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Feb. 2024 Aid formulas assess parental assets when determining eligibility, so this fancy footwork could shield a big chunk of their money. Ron Lieber, New York Times, 17 Feb. 2024 With its stilts, bowler hats, and canes, the spectacle was almost too much, a circus-y sensory overload that threatened to distract from the main star’s own fancy footwork and satiny vocals. Jason Lamphier, EW.com, 12 Feb. 2024 Soccer great Lionel Messi will show off fancy footwork in the Anheuser-Busch InBev beer’s latest Big Game commercial, which is slated to run during CBS’ broadcast of Super Bowl LVIII on Feb. 11. Brian Steinberg, Variety, 1 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'footwork.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1859, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of footwork was in 1859

Dictionary Entries Near footwork

Cite this Entry

“Footwork.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/footwork. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

footwork

noun
foot·​work -ˌwərk How to pronounce footwork (audio)
: the movement of the feet (as in boxing)

More from Merriam-Webster on footwork

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